Ancestry.com now has the Free Negro Owners of Slaves in the United States in 1830 records by state and county. The detail is impressive. What was interesting was the list of what looks like free blacks, who owned slaves and were in the military? It goes like this...

Virginia,

1st Batts. of 13, 7, 97 Regtms.

Spencer, Edward- 5 slaves, six total, ages 36-55
Tasker, Eward- 1 slaves, 3 total, ages 36-55

2nd B. 13 Rt.

Bailey, James- 1 slave, 2 total, ages 36-55

These the records include the records of Absentee ownership of slaves. This shows slaves who were living by themselves in discharge of some special duty in which they had shown unusual capacity. These were usually small families of slaves or single slaves living alone and practically free or were working out their freedom on liberal terms. Again these are separate records from the Free Negro Owners records and are by state and county and shows either the owners name and number of slaves or the name of the overseers (in this case usually a slave) or the name of the head slave in charge.

Total Number of pages..78.

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David Upton